Ironing machine



Oct. 30, 1934. H. STRACHAN IRONING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1932 A mHHHHHi- I in Q M INVENTOR flhrryJY/ac/larz my A RNE Patented Oct. 30, 1934 IRONING mount]:

Harry S'trachan, Jamaica, N. 11., amino: to John F. Russell, Jr., New York, N. Y.

Application April 5, 1932, Serial No. 603,404

14 Claims.

The objects of this invention are to provide for the proper dampening or steamingof the work being handled in ironing machines and to accomplish the same by simple, practical and in- 45 expensive mechanism, adapted to be readily combined with approved forms of ironing machines now in use.

'The novel features of the invention by which the foregoing and other desirable objects are attained are set forth in the following specification,

which is to be read in conjunction with the drawing accompanying and forming part of the same.

In such drawing, certain ,practical embodi ments of the invention are illustrated but the structure may be further modified, within the scope of the invention, as will be apparent from the broad intent of the claims.

K Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation and partly sectional view illustrating a built-in form of the invention having dampening means, and means by which automatic control of the dampening means is effected by the lowering of the pressing roll on the heated shoe.

Fig. 2 is a broken end elevation illustrating details of the automatic control.

Fig. 3 is a broken front elevation of the machine with the steam circulation illustrated in broken lines.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are broken and partly sectional detail views illustrating different modifications of the invention.

The machine shown is of an approved type in which the work indicated at 8 is advanced over a feed board 9 to a heated shoe 10 with which cooperates a pressing roll 11, the latter being carried by arms 12 which are rocked, by means not shown, about the center 13, to lower and raise the roll with respect to the shoe. The shoe is heated by suitable means such as an electric heating element indicated at 14, built into the hollow of the shoe. The feed board and shoe are centrally supported on a pillar 15, leaving both ends of the shoe and roll open to receive the work at either end of the machine. The pillar or column 15 which supports the feed table and shoe is hollow to carry the wiring for the heater and similarly the base 16 on which the column is mounted is of hollow design, to serve as a housing for portions of the apparatus. Advantage is 0 taken of such hollow construction in embodying the present invention in the machine.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the heating shoe is constructed with a manifold or steam chest 1'! on the back of the same and with ports is opening fromthis chest out through the face of the shoe near the upper end of the same. These ports preferably are disposed below and in advance of the line 19 indicating the bite or grip between the roll and the shoe so that the extreme leading edge of the goods may be properly steamed or moistened.

Suitable supply and return piping, 20, 21 may be connected with the opposite ends of the steam chest substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 and, as will be noted in the latter figure, these lines of piping are extended through the hollow base and up through the hollow neck or support 15 so as in no wise to interfere with the placing of the goods over either or both the open ends of the machine.

For automatically controlling the steam or moistening fluid, there is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a rod or link 22 pivoted at its upper end at 23 on a stud carried by one of the swinging roll supporting arms 12 and operating at its lower end through a guide opening 24 in the base in position to actuate the stem 25 of a control valve 26 in the live steam line 20. Actually this link is shown as made up of an upper main portion and a bolt 27 screwed into the lower end of the same and secured in adjusted relation by a lock 20 nut 28, whereby the effective length of the link may be adjusted to secure the desired operation of the control valve. It will be seen that by lengthening the link, the valve may be caused to open sooner in the lowering movement of the roll and that by shortening the link the admission of steam may be delayed. Also this link or plunger construction may be made yieldable so as to accommodate itself to various thicknesses of material passing between the roll and shoe. In the illustration, the lower end of the adjustable bolt is indicated as a spring pressed head portion 29 having a telescopic mounting at 30 in the hollow lower end of the bolt structure. The upper end of the push link pivots freely on the stud 23 so that this link in no way interferes with the raising and lowering operation of the roll.

The piping for the steam or other dampening fluid is connected with a boiler or other suitable source of supply and with such connections made and the push link properly set, the dampening operation is entirely automatic, it being noted that upon each lowering of the roll to grip the cloth or other material the steam will be admitted to the goods as the latter are taken into the bite of the machine.

In case a greater degree of control is desired, a throttle valve 3-1 may be located in the live steam line, which valve also may be utilized to entirely out off the steam when dry ironing is desired.

The pressing shoe is usually heated to a high degree and with the construction described, a portion of such heat is utilized to in effect superheat the steam. This prevents the steam from wetting the roll, which'is an advantage, for rapid effective ironing.

The forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 differ from that above discussed in that the steam chest is in the form of a manifold pipe 32 formed separately from the shoe and located in a gap 33 provided by spacing the feed board back from the upper edge of the shoe. This manifold pipe is shown perforated at 34 along the top of the same to direct the steam upwardly through the work.

In Fig. 4 the manifold pipe is shown elevated sufiiciently to cause the goods to bendover the top of the same and hence actually contact therewith in passing from the feed board to the shoe, taking the steam immediately. and directly from the pipe.

Fig. 5 illustrates how if desired the manifold may be lowered in the gap between the feed board and shoe to leave the fabric clear of the same and so be dampened with a cloud of steam, instead of by a direct spray, both systems having advantages for special kinds of work. If desired the manifold may be mounted so as to be adjustable for such purposes.

As another alternative, the work may be dampened in its passage over the feed board as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 where the feed board is made with a well 35 for containing water which may be heated by a submersion heater 36.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 6, the top of the feed board is simply perforated as at 37 to admit water vapor direct to the work passing over the board.

In Fig. '7 'a moistening roll 41 is journalled in the upper and forward edge portion of the hollow feed board and only sufficient moisture is supplied to the surface of this roll by means of a wick 38 dipping into the tank in the hollow of the feed board. A suitable drain plug such as indicated at 39 may be provided so that the water may be taken out, for dry ironing and in Fig. '7 a dog or bolt is indicated at 40 which may be utilized to hold the roll against rotating when dry ironing is to be done. This roll may have a metal, rubber or other surface and may be grooved, striated or otherwise formed to take up from the wick sufficient moisture and to transfer the same to the work passing thereover and in such case the heater for the water may or may not be employed. Usually heat is desirable, as facilitating dispersion of the moisture. The roll when not held by the dog or looking bolt is allowed to turn freely by contact with the goods passing thereover and if desired a braking force may be applied to the roll to govern the dampening feed on the work.

While the invention has been shown as embodied in a machine of the under-the-roll feed type open at both ends, it will be evident that it may also be embodied in a machine of the overthe-roll type and in machines open at either one or both ends.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ironing machine, the combination with companion roll and shoe members, of means for automatically dampening the work in passage to said companion ironing members, said means including a source of dampening fluid, connections for conveying said fluid toward the path of the work and applying said fluid to the work, and controlling means acting automatically to eflect application of fluid to the work when said ironing members are operating, and to withhold said application of fluid when said ironing members are not in operation.

2. In an' ironing machine, the combination with companion roll and shoe members, of means for automatically dampening the work in passage to said companion ironing members and including a steam chest associated with said shoe, connections for conveying said steam toward the path of the work and applying said steam to the work, and controlling means acting automatically to effect application of steam to the work when said ironing members are operating, and to withhold said application of steam when said ironing members are not in operation.

3. In an ironing machine, the combination with companion roll and shoe members, of means for automatically dampening the work in passage to said companion ironing members and including a steam chest on the back of said shoe and having ports opening through the face of the shoe, and controlling means acting automatically to effect application of steam to the work when said ironing members are operating, and to with hold said application of steam when said ironing members are not operating.

4. In an ironing machine the combination with relatively movable companion roll and shoe members, of means for automatically dampening the work in passage to said companion ironing members and including steam supply connections and means for controlling the same, automatically operable by the relative movements of said members aforesaid.

5. In combination with the relatively separable roll and shoe members of an ironing machine, steaming connections for steaming the work handled by said machine and control means for said steaming connections automatically operable by the relative movements of said members aforesaid.

6. In combination, cooperating roll and shoe members of an ironing machine, means for effecting approaching and separating movements of said members and means for dampening the work for such machine, including control mechanism operable on the approach movements of said cooperating members.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination of a feed board, heated shoe and a roll movable toward and away from said shoe, a conduit positioned for dampening the work passing from the feed board to the shoe and supply connections for said conduit including valve mechanism operable by the movements of said roll toward and away from the shoe.

8. In an ironing machine, a hollow base, a hollow pedestal on said base, a heated shoe supported by said pedestal, a cooperating roll, a swinging support for said roll, piping for dampening fluid extending through the hollow base and up through the hollow pedestal, a dampening manifold on the pedestal connected with said piping.

9. In an ironing machine, a hollow base, a hollow pedestal on said base, a heated shoe supported by said pedestal, a cooperating roll, a swinging support for said roll, piping for dampening fluid extending through the hollow base and up through the hollow pedestal, a dampening manifold on the pedestal connected with said piping, a control valve in said piping and means operated by the rocking mechanism of the roll for actuating said control valve.

10. In an ironing machine, a hollow base, a hollow pedestal on said base, a heated shoe supported by said pedestal, a cooperating roll, a swinging support for said roll, piping for dampening fluid extending through the hollow base and up through the hollow pedestal, a dampening manitold on the pedestal connected with said piping, a control valve in said piping and means operated' by the rocking mechanism of the roll for actuating said control valve including link mechanism adjustable to vary the operation of the control valve.-

11. In an ironing machine, a-hollow base, a hollow pedestal on said base, a heated shoe supported by said pedestal, a cooperating roll, a swinging support for said roll, piping for dampening fluid extending through the hollow base and up through the hollow pedestal, a dampening manifold on the pedestal connected with said piping, said manifold having ports positioned to dampen the work in advance of the line of gripping engagement between the roll and shoe.

12. In an ironing machine, the combination of cooperating roll and shoe members, mechanism for eirecting approach and separation of the same, a link connected with said mechanism and work steaming connections including a control valve operated by said link.

13. In an ironing machine,'the combination of cooperating roll and shoe members, mechanism for eii'ecting approach and separation of the same, a link connected with said mechanism, work steaming connections including a control valve operated by said link and adjustable means for varying the action of said link.

14. In an ironing machine, the combination of cooperating roll and shoe members, mechanism for effecting approach and separation 01' the same, work steaming connections including a control valve and an actuating member therefor operated by said mechanism, said work steaming connections including an adjustable part for varying operation of the control valve.

HARRY STRACHAN. 

